Black Scoter Images

Black Scoter Images, Facts and Information:

Melanitta americana

Black Scoters are medium-sized sea ducks with entirely black plumage in males, while females are dark brown with pale cheeks. Both sexes have large, bulbous bills, with males having a distinctive bright yellow knob at the base.

Black Scoters are long-distance migrants. They breed in the arctic tundra of Alaska and northern Canada, and winter along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America, from Alaska to California in the west and from Newfoundland to Florida in the east.

Black Scoters inhabit coastal marine environments during winter, including bays, estuaries, and open ocean. In summer, they breed near freshwater lakes and ponds in the arctic tundra.

Black Scoters feed primarily on mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic insects. They dive to forage on the sea floor, often in waters up to 20 feet deep.

Black Scoters lay 6 to 9 eggs which hatch in about 27 to 31 days. The females incubate and they are monogamous for the breeding season.

A group of scoters can be called a “raft”, “paddling”, or “scaup” of scoters.

The oldest known Black Scoter was at least 10 years old.

I hope you enjoy viewing my Black Scoter photos.